\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The first thing that we discovered was that Vuta N\u2019kuvute may not have been a success without financial support from the Doha film. It was one of the movies that won the Doha film post-production grant. Shivji shared this news with his Instagram follower on 20 June 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\"Vuta
Vuta N\u2019kuvute won the Doha film post-production grant (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/<\/a>Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that we discovered was that Vuta N\u2019kuvute may not have been a success without financial support from the Doha film. It was one of the movies that won the Doha film post-production grant. Shivji shared this news with his Instagram follower on 20 June 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

What we know about Vuta N\u2019kuvute, the Oscars Awards shortlist from Tanzania<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Vuta
Vuta N\u2019kuvute won the Doha film post-production grant (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/<\/a>Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that we discovered was that Vuta N\u2019kuvute may not have been a success without financial support from the Doha film. It was one of the movies that won the Doha film post-production grant. Shivji shared this news with his Instagram follower on 20 June 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

\u201cIt is an honor and privilege to be selected as Tanzania\u2019s official submission to the 95th Academy Awards. Two decades have passed since Tanzania has been recognized by the world\u2019s most prestigious platform for cinema. Although these are baby steps, the future for Tanzanian cinema is finally in our hands.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we know about Vuta N\u2019kuvute, the Oscars Awards shortlist from Tanzania<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Vuta
Vuta N\u2019kuvute won the Doha film post-production grant (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/<\/a>Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that we discovered was that Vuta N\u2019kuvute may not have been a success without financial support from the Doha film. It was one of the movies that won the Doha film post-production grant. Shivji shared this news with his Instagram follower on 20 June 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Amil Shivji, one of the producers and director of the movie Vuta N\u2019kuvute could not hide his joy. In an Instagram post<\/a>, Shivji thanked all the cast and also highlighted how this opens a world of opportunities for filmmakers in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is an honor and privilege to be selected as Tanzania\u2019s official submission to the 95th Academy Awards. Two decades have passed since Tanzania has been recognized by the world\u2019s most prestigious platform for cinema. Although these are baby steps, the future for Tanzanian cinema is finally in our hands.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we know about Vuta N\u2019kuvute, the Oscars Awards shortlist from Tanzania<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Vuta
Vuta N\u2019kuvute won the Doha film post-production grant (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/<\/a>Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that we discovered was that Vuta N\u2019kuvute may not have been a success without financial support from the Doha film. It was one of the movies that won the Doha film post-production grant. Shivji shared this news with his Instagram follower on 20 June 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\"Instagram
Instagram post of Amil Shivji, one of the producers of the Tanzanian movie shortlisted for the Oscars Awards (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji, one of the producers and director of the movie Vuta N\u2019kuvute could not hide his joy. In an Instagram post<\/a>, Shivji thanked all the cast and also highlighted how this opens a world of opportunities for filmmakers in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is an honor and privilege to be selected as Tanzania\u2019s official submission to the 95th Academy Awards. Two decades have passed since Tanzania has been recognized by the world\u2019s most prestigious platform for cinema. Although these are baby steps, the future for Tanzanian cinema is finally in our hands.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we know about Vuta N\u2019kuvute, the Oscars Awards shortlist from Tanzania<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Vuta
Vuta N\u2019kuvute won the Doha film post-production grant (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/<\/a>Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that we discovered was that Vuta N\u2019kuvute may not have been a success without financial support from the Doha film. It was one of the movies that won the Doha film post-production grant. Shivji shared this news with his Instagram follower on 20 June 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

The first time that a Tanzanian movie made an entry into the Oscars Awards was in 2002 with the movie \u2018Maangazi: The Ancient One\u2019. Tanzania\u2019s Swahili Bongo movies are popular in East Africa. However, they have struggled with penetrating other regions of the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Instagram
Instagram post of Amil Shivji, one of the producers of the Tanzanian movie shortlisted for the Oscars Awards (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji, one of the producers and director of the movie Vuta N\u2019kuvute could not hide his joy. In an Instagram post<\/a>, Shivji thanked all the cast and also highlighted how this opens a world of opportunities for filmmakers in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is an honor and privilege to be selected as Tanzania\u2019s official submission to the 95th Academy Awards. Two decades have passed since Tanzania has been recognized by the world\u2019s most prestigious platform for cinema. Although these are baby steps, the future for Tanzanian cinema is finally in our hands.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we know about Vuta N\u2019kuvute, the Oscars Awards shortlist from Tanzania<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Vuta
Vuta N\u2019kuvute won the Doha film post-production grant (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/<\/a>Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that we discovered was that Vuta N\u2019kuvute may not have been a success without financial support from the Doha film. It was one of the movies that won the Doha film post-production grant. Shivji shared this news with his Instagram follower on 20 June 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> The 26th Pan-African Festival of Cinema and Television (FESPACO) Kicks Off In Burkina Faso<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first time that a Tanzanian movie made an entry into the Oscars Awards was in 2002 with the movie \u2018Maangazi: The Ancient One\u2019. Tanzania\u2019s Swahili Bongo movies are popular in East Africa. However, they have struggled with penetrating other regions of the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Instagram
Instagram post of Amil Shivji, one of the producers of the Tanzanian movie shortlisted for the Oscars Awards (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji, one of the producers and director of the movie Vuta N\u2019kuvute could not hide his joy. In an Instagram post<\/a>, Shivji thanked all the cast and also highlighted how this opens a world of opportunities for filmmakers in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is an honor and privilege to be selected as Tanzania\u2019s official submission to the 95th Academy Awards. Two decades have passed since Tanzania has been recognized by the world\u2019s most prestigious platform for cinema. Although these are baby steps, the future for Tanzanian cinema is finally in our hands.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we know about Vuta N\u2019kuvute, the Oscars Awards shortlist from Tanzania<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Vuta
Vuta N\u2019kuvute won the Doha film post-production grant (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/<\/a>Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that we discovered was that Vuta N\u2019kuvute may not have been a success without financial support from the Doha film. It was one of the movies that won the Doha film post-production grant. Shivji shared this news with his Instagram follower on 20 June 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

Before being shortlisted for the Oscars Awards, Vuta N\u2019kuvute was already a pacesetter in Tanzania movie industry. In September 2021, it became the first feature movie from that country to ever screen at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> The 26th Pan-African Festival of Cinema and Television (FESPACO) Kicks Off In Burkina Faso<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first time that a Tanzanian movie made an entry into the Oscars Awards was in 2002 with the movie \u2018Maangazi: The Ancient One\u2019. Tanzania\u2019s Swahili Bongo movies are popular in East Africa. However, they have struggled with penetrating other regions of the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Instagram
Instagram post of Amil Shivji, one of the producers of the Tanzanian movie shortlisted for the Oscars Awards (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji, one of the producers and director of the movie Vuta N\u2019kuvute could not hide his joy. In an Instagram post<\/a>, Shivji thanked all the cast and also highlighted how this opens a world of opportunities for filmmakers in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is an honor and privilege to be selected as Tanzania\u2019s official submission to the 95th Academy Awards. Two decades have passed since Tanzania has been recognized by the world\u2019s most prestigious platform for cinema. Although these are baby steps, the future for Tanzanian cinema is finally in our hands.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we know about Vuta N\u2019kuvute, the Oscars Awards shortlist from Tanzania<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Vuta
Vuta N\u2019kuvute won the Doha film post-production grant (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/<\/a>Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that we discovered was that Vuta N\u2019kuvute may not have been a success without financial support from the Doha film. It was one of the movies that won the Doha film post-production grant. Shivji shared this news with his Instagram follower on 20 June 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n

In what will be considered a historic event, a Tanzanian movie has been shortlisted for the 95th Oscars Awards. The movie titled Vuta N\u2019kuvute (Swahili word for \u2018Tug of War\u2019) was shortlisted in the Best International Film category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before being shortlisted for the Oscars Awards, Vuta N\u2019kuvute was already a pacesetter in Tanzania movie industry. In September 2021, it became the first feature movie from that country to ever screen at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> The 26th Pan-African Festival of Cinema and Television (FESPACO) Kicks Off In Burkina Faso<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first time that a Tanzanian movie made an entry into the Oscars Awards was in 2002 with the movie \u2018Maangazi: The Ancient One\u2019. Tanzania\u2019s Swahili Bongo movies are popular in East Africa. However, they have struggled with penetrating other regions of the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Instagram
Instagram post of Amil Shivji, one of the producers of the Tanzanian movie shortlisted for the Oscars Awards (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji, one of the producers and director of the movie Vuta N\u2019kuvute could not hide his joy. In an Instagram post<\/a>, Shivji thanked all the cast and also highlighted how this opens a world of opportunities for filmmakers in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is an honor and privilege to be selected as Tanzania\u2019s official submission to the 95th Academy Awards. Two decades have passed since Tanzania has been recognized by the world\u2019s most prestigious platform for cinema. Although these are baby steps, the future for Tanzanian cinema is finally in our hands.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we know about Vuta N\u2019kuvute, the Oscars Awards shortlist from Tanzania<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Vuta
Vuta N\u2019kuvute won the Doha film post-production grant (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/<\/a>Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that we discovered was that Vuta N\u2019kuvute may not have been a success without financial support from the Doha film. It was one of the movies that won the Doha film post-production grant. Shivji shared this news with his Instagram follower on 20 June 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

\n
\"Amil
Amil Shivji during the shooting of VNV (Photo credit: @amilshivji<\/a>\/Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In what will be considered a historic event, a Tanzanian movie has been shortlisted for the 95th Oscars Awards. The movie titled Vuta N\u2019kuvute (Swahili word for \u2018Tug of War\u2019) was shortlisted in the Best International Film category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before being shortlisted for the Oscars Awards, Vuta N\u2019kuvute was already a pacesetter in Tanzania movie industry. In September 2021, it became the first feature movie from that country to ever screen at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> The 26th Pan-African Festival of Cinema and Television (FESPACO) Kicks Off In Burkina Faso<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first time that a Tanzanian movie made an entry into the Oscars Awards was in 2002 with the movie \u2018Maangazi: The Ancient One\u2019. Tanzania\u2019s Swahili Bongo movies are popular in East Africa. However, they have struggled with penetrating other regions of the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Instagram
Instagram post of Amil Shivji, one of the producers of the Tanzanian movie shortlisted for the Oscars Awards (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji, one of the producers and director of the movie Vuta N\u2019kuvute could not hide his joy. In an Instagram post<\/a>, Shivji thanked all the cast and also highlighted how this opens a world of opportunities for filmmakers in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is an honor and privilege to be selected as Tanzania\u2019s official submission to the 95th Academy Awards. Two decades have passed since Tanzania has been recognized by the world\u2019s most prestigious platform for cinema. Although these are baby steps, the future for Tanzanian cinema is finally in our hands.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we know about Vuta N\u2019kuvute, the Oscars Awards shortlist from Tanzania<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Vuta
Vuta N\u2019kuvute won the Doha film post-production grant (Photo credit: @amilshivji\/<\/a>Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that we discovered was that Vuta N\u2019kuvute may not have been a success without financial support from the Doha film. It was one of the movies that won the Doha film post-production grant. Shivji shared this news with his Instagram follower on 20 June 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2020, Shivji yet again announced on his Instagram page<\/a> that the movie was one of the winners of the Visions Sud Est post-production fund. In September of 2021, it premiered at both TIFF, Canada and FESPACO, Burkina Faso where it won the People\u2019s Choice Award in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by so many production grants, it is not surprising that Vuta N\u2019kuvute is the rave of the moment. Whenever African filmmakers get the chance, They always emphasize how the lack of funds is limiting the growth of the African movie industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sneak peek into Vuta N\u2019kuvute<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute was set during the British Imperial rule. It follows the story of a young freedom fighter, Denge whose fate crossed with an Indian-Zanzibari girl called Yasmin. The meeting coincided with when Yasmin was to be married off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Pan African Film And Arts Festival Extends its Film Submission Deadline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That midnight encounter set off passion and revolution that provides the stake on which the rest of the movie weaves. Vuta N\u2019kuvute features a lot of first-timers in the Tanzania movie scene. It is unpredictable what we can do for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lb8uoU4N3rw\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Amil Shivji<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amil Shivji was born in Tanzania. He doubles as a lecturer t the University of Dar es Salaam and a filmmaker. His movies challenge powers that be and tear down the urban development facades by emphasizing the struggle and strength of marginalized communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has written, produced, and directed feature movies and short films. T-Junction in 2017 was his first ever feature movie directorial debut. The movie opened the Zanzibar International Film Festival that year and went on to scoop three awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuta N\u2019kuvute is his second feature movie. The movie won the Mashariki African Film Festival in  Rwanda and won the Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 2021. Its biggest honor so far is earning a spot at 95th Oscars Awards shortlist. <\/p>\n\n\n","post_title":"Tanzania Get First Oscars Awards Entry In 20 Years","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"tanzania-get-first-oscars-award-entry-in-20-years","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-07 23:27:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/?p=342944","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":401539,"post_author":"11068","post_date":"2022-08-02 02:28:54","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-02 09:28:54","post_content":"\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale at an event (Photo Credit: Facebook @EthioTube<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 pandemic affected the health sector globally and bruised the world economy in an enormous way. The peak of the scourge may be behind us now but we will not forget the selfless efforts and sacrifices of numerous men and women that got us to where we are today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In history, we hear and learn of several epidemics that affected humanity negatively. In recent times, however, we have not seen anything like COVID-19. In a span of one year, the virus spread to all part of the world. Thus, we decided to shine a light on Mike Endale's contribution to keeping the COVID-19 menace at bay in his home country, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Diaspora Spotlight: Khaby Lam\u00e9 Is Now The Most Followed TikToker, Joins LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Ethiopia's ministry of health confirmed and reported its first COVID-19 case on Mar. 13, 2020, Endale could not just sit back and watch. He sent out a tweet asking for experts willing to volunteer to join hands with him and assist the Ethiopian government in combating the crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the heroic story of a young Ethiopian American based in Washington DC, United States. Sit back, relax, enjoy the read, and get inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=60MxXuTZKI0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale joins Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought fear, panic, and disarray to many countries in the world. However, some countries like South Korea and China seemed to be better prepared. They immediately embraced technology to devise tools that could help in combating the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is this technological approach that motivated Endale, an expert software developer, to embark on urgent recruitment of other experts. With a team of techies, he knew that combating the spread of the deadly virus in his home country was possible. The rally started as a simple solicitation message on github.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need an army of tech volunteers to help the Ethiopian Ministry of Health collect, analyze and report to the agency so that we can assist them in the time of need.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it all began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udde3 Calling all software developers\/engineers! Help the #Ethiopian<\/a> @FMoHealth<\/a> by contributing #opensource<\/a> via @GitHub<\/a> to respond to #COVID19<\/a> in \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>

Signup \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/EWMZonXDPh<\/a><\/p>

Star \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffe https:\/\/t.co\/0hJiEalI53<\/a><\/p>

cc @DrSenait<\/a> @AbiyAhmedAli<\/a> @PMEthiopia<\/a> @DrGetahun<\/a> @iceaddis<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Mike Endale (@MikeEndale) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In response to the tweet, Mike Endale got 300 people willing to volunteer in just under 24 hours. Twenty days later he had 1,400 volunteers and that's how Ethiopia's COVID-19 Response Team came to be. It was mainly comprised of professional Ethiopians in the diaspora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition included experts from America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other African countries. Also, the expertise of the team members cut acrss machine learning experts, software engineers, technical engineers, and doctors, just to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of the Mike Endale's response team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of Mike Endale's team was to collect data, analyze it and report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This helped the ministry officials in responding quickly to the crisis and creating highly effective mitigation strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team members also developed open-source code programs or tools that were used to create awareness among the people. The tools mainly informed people about the risks of the deadly virus. They also helped in tracking contact persons in case of a confirmed infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Spotlight: How George Wachiuri Beat Extreme Poverty To Own The Largest Real Estate Company In Kenya<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also took it upon themselves to provide credible and factual news and information to dispel the anxiety of misinformation. Within a short space of time, Mike Endale's project trasitioned from being Ethiopia's COVID-19 response team to Africa COVID-19 Response Toolkit<\/a> on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toolkit is a repository of essential of open source tools and web apps that any government can leverage. Some of the resources in the toolkit include awareness website, emergency relief package tracker, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mike
Mike Endale @WearTheMask campaign (Photo Credit: Twitter @Mike Endale<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endale grew up hearing and participating in technical discussions at home. This was because his father owned a small company in Ethiopia that made satellite dishes and drilling rigs. Every Saturday morning, Mike Endale would accompany his dad to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his mind was open to finding technical solutions to various challenges around him, he had no technological experience yet. Whenever Endale was given bus fare, he would save some money and buy floppy diskettes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an uncanny happy considering the fact that he did not own a computer. However, at the age of 14, he met good friends who had computers at home. This opened a new door for him and whenever they were together, the friends would always discuss computing matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Diaspora Spotlight: You Will Drop Your Excuses After Reading Kelvin Doe\u2019s Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand entry into Computer Programming and Web Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Mike Endale's friends gave him a small book on basic Windows programming. He read it from cover to cover even though he did not fully understand its contents. Finally, Endale's family got a computer when he was 16 years old. This allowed him to fully immerse himself in computer programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent numerous sleepless nights programming, reprogramming, playing games, and chatting whenever the Internet was available. At the age of 17 and with the help of a friend, he executed his first calculator program on the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/N-igjyqaPWg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely path to a successful partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Mike Endale believes in hard work, he also believes that luck plays a major role in connecting someone to his or her destiny. He borrows his thoughts from Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers<\/em>). To back up his thought, he narrated something that happened when he was a student at Montgomery College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Returnee Spotlight: Jemila Abdulai Compares Returning To Africa And Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college published a newspaper and Endale would prepare the publication. One day, he saw a gorgeous Ethiopian artwork on the internet. He downloaded it and used it in his publication. Later on, he got contacted by one Ephrem Girma who happened to be the rightful owner of the piece of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversation was not all friendly since Endale had used the piece of art without permission. But believe it or not, from this discussion, a new long-lasting friendship was born. The two are business partners up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Endale's source of motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While still in his late teens, Mike Endale got a chance to join Ethiopia Student Association international-ESAi. This association was started in 1999 by Wubeshet Mehari who was a student at Marymount University at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The association's goal was to bring like-minded young Ethiopians together with the aim of collectively providing solutions to the community. It was during his first attendance at the annual ESAi summit that Endale met Robel Kassa (a web service expert) making his presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was so intrigued by the presentation and deep down in his heart, he desired to be just like Kassa. Having been greatly motivated, he joined the association which he says gave him a new perspective on life that he never had. Eventually, he became the vice president of the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> 10 Best COVID-19 Response By African Governments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/hallaboutafrica\/status\/1268442884908384258\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Encouragement to the youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do what you like, you will eventually make become successful and command respect. That's what Mike Endale believes. When you follow your passion, financial breakthrough and freedom will be yours in return. Having started volunteering from a young age, Endale encourages other young people to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that volunteering gives people an idea of where they want to be in life. It also enables them to know what they need to get there. Serving the community through volunteering enables one to learn, get better and gain confidence while creating a positive impact on other needy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Mike Endale thinks about Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Education is important in forming the ideal way of thinking. This is because it will provide solutions to challenges that have stuck with us as Africans for quite a long time. However, Endale believes that a 9 to 5 o'clock class approach will not do the continent any good in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes that education and technology should be taught simultaneously in the classrooms. This is the only way permanent and sustainable solutions to Africa's problems, especially sub-Saharan Africa, will be found. Constructive education and practical technology will get the beautiful and resourceful continent of Africa at par with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nA6kPLO7pm8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is crystal clear that Mike Endale is no ordinary guy as far as technology and implementing its usefulness is concerned. Together with his friend and longtime business partner Ephrem Giram, Endale has soared to heights he never knew were possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passion for programming and web design has created big businesses and companies that are known globally. He has been serving as the vice president<\/a> of special projects and head of engineering for CCMS at Wonderschool in Washington DC since August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was after Wonderschool acquired Moxit, a leading software company he co-founded in 2016 and was also its chief executive officer. He is also the principal, operations, and senior app developer at BLEN Corp since 2001.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Diaspora Spotlight: Mike Endale's Motivation To Join Ethiopia's COVID-19 Fight","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"how-mike-endale-helping-ethiopia-to-fight-covid-19","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-16 15:36:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=319784","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":332006,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_date_gmt":"2022-02-18 12:14:30","post_content":"\n

\"Mr.
Mr. Ransford Sowah receives Ghana Card's key certificate from ICAO official (Photo credit: @GhanaPresidency<\/a>\/Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport. This development comes after the country successfully completed its \u201cKey Ceremony\u201d on Feb. 9, 2022. The historic event took place at The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation from Ghana that included Vice President\u2019s secretary, Mr. Augustine Blay, and the National Identification Authority\u2019s executive secretary, Prof. Ken Attafuah, graced the occasion that saw Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Ransford Sowah, receive the \u201ckey\u201d certificate. This symbolically indicated that Ghana has joined the ICAO family. ICAO congratulated Ghana for this development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: See What The Wireless Earbuds Developed By This Ghanaian<\/a><\/strong>-British Entrepreneur Can Do<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1491773581256179718?s=20&t=FBfdagDGTb6dA4S51cHvZQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the seal of approval for the Ghana Card by the ICAO, Ghanaians will be able to use it as an official document in 44,000 airports across ICAO-compliant countries for boarding flights to Ghana. The usage of the card is expected to take effect in the second quarter of this year. This is after the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) connects its systems with those of the National Identification Authority (NIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As GIS, NIA, and the government gear towards this course, many Ghanaians, and the world in general, are in a state of confusion. In particular, many wonder how the anticipated ID card will help them travel and what unique benefits it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a secure and multi-purpose biometric national identity card issued by the government to Ghanaian citizens. The card comes with a chip that stores biometric data. Holders of this new card will be able to easily prove their citizenship or identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the card will make it faster, easier, and safer for them to access social services such as education, banking, communication, health, and insurance. It will also help to establish the biometric data of the holder for authentication and verification of transactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to NIA, \u201cthe Ghana Card has the features of an e-passport and can be used for travels where immigration stamps are not required.\u201d If lost, the Authority will require the affected person to pay a fee to get a new card. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Ghanaian citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaians living abroad, and legal foreign nationals living in the country also qualify to get the card. In addition, it captures three main types of data about the applicant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Why Ghanaian Canadian Lego Sculpture Ekow Nimako Uses Black Legos To Build His World<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are personal information, parental, spousal, and next of kin data, and institutional verification information. Once the government completes the\u00a0mass registration<\/a>\u00a0that began in 2019, it will carry out continuous registration of newly born children. Also, Ghanaians returning from abroad on a visit or relocating to the country will be allowed to apply for the new national ID card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should you have the Ghana Card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was among the first to welcome the new development. In his speech, which Mr. Sowah read during the Montreal event, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card meets the e-passport standards of the ICAO. This means that with this key ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card who have e-passports that are compliant with ICAO standards can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports\/border posts across the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/GhanaPresidency\/status\/1491709508791549955?s=20&t=rz9SFZRa7Q1P8jThXkZn0A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Controversies Over Ghana Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the Montreal ceremony, some reports claimed that ICAO had declared the ID card as equivalent to a biometric passport. But ICAO disputed that as a misrepresentation. The international organization made it clear that it is not responsible for deciding which identification document is acceptable for a travel pass. Instead, that is the role of individual states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Forbes Africa Names Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo As African Of The Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/icao\/status\/1492236024029847558?s=20&t=HV3APc0GJYGoTxMpb-k7xA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had hinted about the Ghana Card during his public lecture at the Ashesi University. He said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not widely known that the Ghana Card is also an electronic passport (e-passport) that contains the biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. We have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skepticism on the Ghana card e-passport status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But some Ghanaians dismissed this statement with some saying it was merely the VP\u2019s imagination that wasn\u2019t possible. Others termed it as falsehood. The VP has since come out to clarify this contentious issue saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t need your physical passport to travel. We will get to the stage where we can have agreements. What is happening right now is we are linking every passport with the national ID card. The Ghana Card number and the passport number will be linked so that your travel history is preserved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awaited ID card with an e-passport function continues to evoke diverse opinions. Some experts question the preparade of airports and border checkpoints. Nonetheless, the Ghana Card will certainly make identification and validation quicker and more effective. Once the government completes the e-passport project, Ghana will join a few other nations in the world that issue national IDs with passport capabilities.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Here Is What You Can Or Cannot Do With Ghana Card","post_excerpt":"Ghana\u2019s national identity card, the Ghana Card, is set to be used globally as a valid ID card\/e-passport.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"here-is-what-you-can-or-cannot-do-with-ghana-card","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-16 17:07:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=332006","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":218566,"post_author":"2777","post_date":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_date_gmt":"2020-01-31 01:17:56","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_218567\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"735\"]\"\" Why Africans Need To Worry About The Wuhan Coronavirus<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSince the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, the death toll has continued to grow. According to Worldometers<\/a>, at the time of writing this report, there are over 9,800 confirmed cases and 213 deaths. However, all the recorded deaths are in China. So far, the virus has spread to 23 countries and territories Including Oceania, United States, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, and Finland. The majority of the infection cases are in Asian countries.\n\nAt the inception of the outbreak, the general belief was that Wuhan coronavirus can only move from animal-to-human. However, recent data suggest that the virus can move from human-to-human. The first human-to-human transmission outside China<\/a> was confirmed in the United States by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The husband of a female patient who visited China tested positive to the virus.\n

ALSO READ: 10 Innovative Startups That Will Influence Healthcare Service Delivery In Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nAlso, the majority of the cases outside China are people who returned from China. However, the discovery of human-to-human transmission of the virus is an indication that it is no longer confined to people who visited China.\n\nAt the moment, there is no cure or vaccine against the virus. With many Chinese citizens returning to Africa after their New Year celebrations, African countries need to be on their toes. If developed nations with sophisticated health systems are struggling to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, what will happen when it gets to poorer nations with lagging health systems? Also, with hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola and Lassa Fever currently ravaging different African nations, Wuhan coronavirus will further strain the already overwhelmed medical systems.\n\n\n

All You Need to Know About the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nCoronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses causing several illnesses including common cold. It can also cause more severe illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome<\/a> (MERS-CoV). The Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV 2019) is a novel strain that has not been previously identified in humans.\n\nGenerally, coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means human beings get them from animals. Investigations into previous coronavirus outbreaks link them to animals. For example, MERS-CoV was from camels to humans while SARS-CoV was from civet cats to humans. There are several known coronaviruses that are circulating in animals but yet to infect humans.\n
ALSO READ: Malawian E-Health Startup Ocliya Wins Global Seedstars Competition In Malawi<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe common signs of coronavirus infections include fever, shortness of breath, cough, and breathing difficulties. In extreme cases, there may be pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. The culmination of these may lead to death.\n\nPrevention usually involves regular handwashing, cooking meats and eggs thoroughly, as well as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid close contact with people with respiratory illness symptoms like coughing and sneezing.\n\nPassing information regarding the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus can be a serious challenge in Africa. This is because of the low literacy level in the continent. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural<\/a> (UNESCO) statistics, 38% of African adults are illiterate. Therefore, the best approach is to prevent the entry of the virus.\n\n\n

How Government Intervention can halt the Spread into Africa<\/h2>\nSince managing the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus in Africa might be a serious challenge, more efforts should be put into preventing it. Some of the ways African government can curtail the spread of the virus include;\n
    \n \t
  1. Increasing screening at international borders: Many African countries have porous borders that allow the free flow of people and goods. Also, foreign diplomats often receive preferential treatments. A good example was how Patrick Sawyer moved from Monrovia to Lagos even when he was already infected with the Ebola virus in 2015. There should be thorough screening at all entry and exit points using thermal cameras especially for nationals returning from China.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Quarantine: Anyone showing any symptoms of respiratory illnesses should be quarantined for at least 14 days. In fact, all local and foreign nationals who are returning from China should be quarantined for 14 days. According to health experts, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually emerge 2 to 14 days after infection.<\/li>\n \t
  3. Massive enlightenment: The outbreak of disease usually lead to panic. Consequently, this often leads to the spread of misleading information. African governments should be proactive in organizing a massive campaign to educate the masses on Wuhan coronavirus spread and prevention. Most importantly, these campaigns should be in the language the people will understand.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Improved preparedness: While it is important for the government to step up preventive mechanisms, they should also prepare for eventualities. African governments should learn from what is happening in Wuhan. The hospitals were overwhelmed that the government had to order the building of a new center. African governments should plan to build larger quarantine centers or fund the expansion of existing hospitals in case there is an outbreak.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Latest News on the Wuhan Coronavirus<\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday 30th January 2020 declared the Wuhan Coronavirus a global emergency. As the virus continues to spread, there are concerns that it may get to poorer nations with weaker health systems that may not have the capacity to properly manage it. Speaking during the declaration, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said,\n\n\"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China.\"<\/em>\n
    ALSO READ: Kenyan Born Titus Kipruto Is Creating Global Healthcare Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nThe WHO declares a global emergency when an outbreak has the propensity for rapid international spread. In the last two decades, WHO has declared five global public health emergencies. This includes:\n
    Recent Posts
    See all

Recent Posts
See all

You cannot copy content of this page

Report

Harassment or bullying behavior
Contains mature or sensitive content
Contains misleading or false information
Contains abusive or derogatory content
Contains spam, fake content or potential malware

Block Member?

Please confirm you want to block this member.

You will no longer be able to:

  • See blocked member's posts
  • Mention this member in posts
  • Invite this member to groups
  • Message this member
  • Add this member as a connection

Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.

Report

You have already reported this .
Receive our latest updates

Subscribe To Our Newsletter